WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., today participated in a colloquy on the U.S. Senate floor to urge the replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Failure to do so would not only hurt already struggling farmers, ranchers, and growers; it would jeopardize the implementation of 2018 Farm Bill programs.
Participating in the colloquy were Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D.; John Thune, R-S.D.; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss.; and John Boozman, R-Ark.
“The 2018 Farm Bill provides essential programs to producers that allow them to mitigate some of the risks that are outside of their control. Many of these programs are implemented through the authority and the annual funding Congress provides to the CCC,” said Roberts.
“I would stress to my colleagues that now is not the time for political gamesmanship. If Congress does not replenish the CCC, it could significantly harm or even halt these important programs. Farmers, ranchers, and others in farm country are counting on us to do our job.”
“Even during a global pandemic, U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to hold up their end of the bargain by producing their crops for the world’s safest, most affordable food supply. The least that we can do is to ensure that the 2018 Farm Bill, the piece of legislation that received 87 votes here in the Senate, continues to be fully implemented on time and without delay.”
Click here to watch and download Roberts’ remarks. The following is text of remarks as prepared for delivery:
Mr. President, I rise to engage in a colloquy on the importance of providing certainty and predictability to our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and growers by replenishing the Commodity Credit Corporation.
First, I would like to thank Senator Hoeven and other participating Senators for their commitment to agriculture. No matter what they grow or where they live, farmers, ranchers, and growers have done their part to ensure the U.S. food, fiber and fuel supply continues without disruption during these unprecedented times.
Every five years, Congress passes legislation that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy, commonly referred to as the Farm Bill. It is our commitment to those that are on the frontlines—in the fields, caring for the livestock, managing the lands—day in and day out.
As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, we were successful in passing the 2018 Farm Bill in a bipartisan manner. In fact, 87 Members of this Chamber voted in favor of the legislation.
This vote demonstrated that the 2018 Farm Bill provided much needed certainty and predictability to farmers and ranchers across all regions and all crops.
Times continue to remain tough in farm country. Farmers and ranchers continue to experience low commodity prices, a global pandemic, natural disasters, and the effects of retaliatory tariffs.
The 2018 Farm Bill provides essential programs to producers that allow them to mitigate some of the risks that are outside of their control. Many of these programs are implemented through the authority and the annual funding Congress provides to the CCC.
Now is not the time for political gamesmanship.
If Congress does not replenish the CCC, it could significantly harm or even halt these important programs. Farmers, ranchers, and others in farm country are counting on us to do our job.
In fact, we’ve heard loud and clear from over 40 organizations representing farmers, ranchers, and other rural stakeholders across the country that the CCC must be reimbursed before the end of the fiscal year. Failure to do so could result in delays in 2018 Farm Bill programs.
Even during a global pandemic, U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to hold up their end of the bargain by producing their crops for the world’s safest, most affordable food supply.
The least that we can do is to ensure that the 2018 Farm Bill, the piece of legislation that received 87 votes here in the Senate, continues to be fully implemented on time and without delay.
I look forward to continue working with my Senate colleagues to ensure that we provide farmers and ranchers with the certainty and predictability from the 2018 Farm Bill.
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